Translating the West
Subtitle: Language and Political Reason in Nineteenth-Century Japan
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Published: October 1, 2001
Language: eng; jpn
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 312
ISBN-13: 9780824824624
Subjects: Language & Linguistics; Political science & theory; c 1800 to c 1900; History; Politics / Current Events; History: World; Asia - Japan; History & Theory - General; History-Asia - Japan; Political Science / History & Theory; Asia - General; 19th century; Civilization; Japan; Liberalism; Political science; Western influences
Description: In this rich and absorbing analysis of the transformation of political thought in nineteenth-century Japan, Douglas Howland examines the transmission to Japan of key concepts--liberty, rights, sovereignty, and society--from Western Europe and the United States. Because Western political concepts did not translate well into their language, Japanese had to invent terminology to engage Western political thought. This work of westernization served to structure historical agency as Japanese leaders undertook the creation of a modern state. --